I Don't Care If I Die [BARCELONA]

The whole plan was ridiculous.

-2:10 Take a final exam in 5 minutes
-Sprint to the train station
-2:30 Catch the bus to Pisa
-3:40 Arrive at Pisa airport
-4:10 Catch a plane to Barcelona
-and if we somehow managed all that, party our asses off in Barcelona

There was no way this could have worked. Between professors showing up late, being totally out of shape, a bus that's never on time, and ridiculously long check-in and security lines...we missed our flight. But this wasn't before we gave it the good-ole college try. In the midst of our high speed adventure we found our selves sharing a taxi cab with two young Swedish men. They spoke pretty good English with a funny accent and pretty good Italian also [which saved our collective ass with the taxi driver]. They asked the taxi driver to get to Pisa's airport as fast as he could and we collectively agreed. That was until we were barreling down the highway at what had to be close to 120 miles per hour. One of my partners in [crime] travel, Kayte, let out a small worried 'wooo'. This is when one of the Sweeds, sitting next to her, smiles knowing she was intimidated by the speed and says what would be come the moto for the whole trip to Barcelona. "I don't care if I die" with his funny accent.

But despite our lack of fear of death, we still missed out flight out of Pisa. But there was no way we were going to let this stop us. We had already come so far, invested so much. What was another two hundred euro? [a question I wish I could answer differently now...this doesn't mean I would still go to Barcelona in a heart beat]. So we did, in fact, make it to Barcelona, Spain [just a little later than originally planned].












Let me start of the recap of this journey with this statement. When I first arrived in Europe, Florence was my favorite city [because I had not been anywhere else]. Then I went to Amsterdam and that definitly was my favorite city and then Munich barely passed it for number one. I can easily say that Barcelona, Spain is my favorite city which I visited in Europe. It is absolutely beautiful, both visiually and culturaly. Architecture, Art, live music on the streets, white sandy beaches, cheap beer, delicous Spanish and Mexican food, beautiful woman, all can be found in Barcelona.











And to make it even better [just when you thought it couldn't...it can], thanks to Nik and his wonderful father, we stayed all three nights of our trip to Barcelona in the Hotel Ritz. Hands down, the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in [in my entire life]. We were truly living in style. Plus there was an awesomely classy Jazz bar right across the street which put out great Mojitos.







So the next three days consisted of beach'n it up with some cold...

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There are very few things in this world better than an ice cold beer on the beach with the sun beating down and the sound of waves crashing in the background [my father will agree]. And other than drinking ice old beer on the hot, sunny beach, there's not much better than trying a new type of beer. I got to do both at the same time! Imagine the grin on my face. I can't say that Estrella Damm is my favorite beer, but combined with my memories of Barcelona its definitly up there. When in Barcelona, try this home-brewed beer just beause it cheap [60 cents a can] and you can drink it on the beach.

They also consisted off, sandcastels, handstands, refreshing dips in the Mediterrean Sea [by refreshing, I mean a little chilly], some spicy tacos and completely covered nachos, more cheap beer, mojitos, street music, mexican happy hours, and some bad [yet halarious] decisions. Two of which, against my better judgement, I will tell you about. The thing to keep in mind is "bad", in the sense of "bad" decisions, is all in the eye of the beholder. So you, being the "beholder", try and "behold" these two decisions with the lightest of hearts [see A Light Heart post below] and keep in mind that alcohol does funny things to your decisoin making skills.

"BAD" DECISION #1: From the moment I set eyes on it I knew exactly what had to be done. It was huge and beautiful and we were in the hotel Ritz for Christ's sake! So, we got boozed up on the beach and came back to the room, filled it, and got in...all of us.











Yes, were wearing our bathing suits...in this picture...


"BAD" DECISION #2: As we sat on the beach drinking our cold beers there was only one thing distracting us away from Barcelona and its beaches' beauty. And that was the hideous [in our educated-architecturally opinion] Frank Ghery sun shade that topped the terrace of the Hotel Arts [probably the most famous and most expensive hotel in Barcelona].

So we made the slightly inebriated decision to walk into the hotel, acting as if we were actualy guests of this fancy-smancy place. We needed to get a closer look at the monostrosity. So we did. To the terrace we went, were we found, along with the hedeous sunshade, a hot tub with three American girls [not the dolls...actual human beings] in it. We also found that a waitress would come take your drink order for one, two, or five mojitos while you sat in the hot tub. We also found that no one seemed to mind if you only wore your underwear in the hot tub. We ALSO found that the near by pool is alot closer than the restrooms. We ALSO found a wedding party on the roof top terrace. And here in lies the "bad" decision [ I know your thinking, we already made a few, but keep in mind Mr./Ms. Beholder, were just having a good time with out hurting anyone...yet]. When the oppurtunity arose for me to walk up to the wedding party on the roof top terrace of the grand Hotel Arts with the shitty Frank Ghery sun shade and its mohito serving waitress...in just my underwear...to try to get some champagne...I couldn't pass it up [could you?]. Very long story short, we got drunk on the roof top terrace of Hotel Arts and I never got any champagne.











See that wasn't so bad. Just think, now I can say I took a bubble bath with two other guys and a girl in the Hotel Ritz of Barcelona. Or, I was half naked in front of a wedding party on top of Hotel Arts. I wonder if anyone can say that along with me. I'm sure there are a few in this world...but not many.

Anyway, before you go thinking that we drank our weekend away in Barcelona, allow me to agree...no I'm only joking. Along with the drinking [which only seems like alot because of those redic stories, Mr./Ms. Beholder], we saw the Olypic Park were we got to take a cable car up a mountian to a very cool castel, which was used to defend the port city, we visited Gaudi's Park Gwell which was absolutely astounding [especially being architecture students],we also got to see Gaudi's Sagrata Fimilia, and we walked all around exploring the beautiful city. So, we did alot more than just drink, but those thing aren't as fun to tell you about.








All and all, my tip to my favorite European city [so far], Barcelona, turned out to be one of my favorite trips [so far] also. We did it up right. Hell, we paid for two plane tickets just to get there, there was no damn way I wasn't swimming in the Mediterrean or getting my picture taken infront of Park Gwell or eating a huge Nacho Grande or washing it down with a Carona...or walking up to a wedding party in just my underwear. That's just what you do in Barcelona, you have the time of your life and you follow up every drink cheers with [in your best faked Swedish accent] "I don't care if I die!"

The Only Cure... [FLORENCE]

Its been four months since I've arrived here in Florence. Time has absolutely flown by, but looking back at arriving and the first few trips [like Amsterdam], they seem so long ago. Time is a strange and mysterious bitch, but over it, I have developed a homesickness that I never thought I would catch. It's a small annoyance that is not at all keeping me from having the time of my life over here, but it sometimes causes a longing like an itch I can't scratch. So, in light of that fact, I have constructed a list...

Things I Miss Terribly Stateside
1. Free Refills
2.Kraft macaroni and cheese
3. Hines ketchup dispensers
4. Kara
5. Natti Light
6.Bubba and Pop
7. Peking Place
8. Driving
9. Swimming
10. my bike
11. Dylan
12. Philly stories
13. Mom and Dad
14. drying machines
15. hot girls who actually talk to me
16. No conversion rates
17. Michalob Ultra
18. greasy American Pizza
19. Movies
20. all my friends
21. I would say peanut butter except for the very reason for this post...

Even if you could hand me three slices of Santo's pizza and a Michy right this moment, although I would be in heaven, I would only be there for that short moment. Small fixes of home, as wonderful as they might be, only suppress the the sickness. The only cure for homesickness is...home itself.

On Sunday March 29, I received three huge, wonderfully delicious jars of peanut butter from none other than my family [see #6, #11, #13, and #21 on the list of Things I Miss Terribly Stateside]. So I probably won't be able to eat peanut butter at all for a month when I return to the US [...yeah right].

The fam's arrival into Pisa was bitter-sweet with hugs, kisses, and lost luggage, but never the less, they pressed on and we visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa and made our way back to Florence. The next day we [barely] made it to Assisi in two different traveling parties on two different trains [train stations can be a bitch]. And over the next week they somehow managed to hit up just about every single museum, momunment, and church in Florence. Great meals that I normaly can't afford, drinking wine I normally can't afford, being a tour quide, getting Dylan drunk at a club, climbing the Dome of Florence for the fourth time [never gets old...that is climbing the Dome, the Dome itself is very old on the other hand], and showing off my broken Italian were only some of the highlights. But, by far, the best thing [like I've said numerous times before] about having loved ones visit you while studying abroad, is having them experience what you have been experiencing. Especially when it's family, because they get to see where all the money they have invested is going.
















Pisa, Assisi, Florence, and Rome...thats one hellava [Good Dip...#22 on the list of Things I Miss Terribly Stateside] week of traveling in Italy, by any standards. But as great as it was so see Mom, Dad, Dylan, Bubba and Pop, to show them what I've been experiencing, to get three huge jars of peanut butter, as great as all that is...it was merly a suppression for homesickness. And while the peanut butter will be plenty to get me through these last weeks, the only cure for this small annoyance called homesickness will come on May 15. And that is ...home.

Mom, Dad, Dylan, Bubba, and Pop, thank you soooo much for spending the time, money, and effort to get here. It was as much, if not more, of a pleasure for me as it was for you guys. Thank you soooo much for spending the time, money, and effort getting me here! If it wasn't for you guys [plus Grandma, Pap Pap, and Mom Litz], I wouldn't be here. Thank you! See you soon!

A LIGHT HEART

Yes, I am having a blast in Europe. In my opinion, I am living better than any human should, and I am so grateful for this. But I am constantly reminding myself of one thing in particular. One gigantic, monumental, BEST FRIEND thing...

And that is no matter where I am, what I am doing, or how much fun I am having, JP is serving our country in Iraq. And I just want to take a moment to remind myself one more time, but also you, that there are still Americans fighting and defending our great nation and our great freedoms. So, I don't care about what your opinion about the war is or Iraq or Barak Obama or George Bush, I want to ask you for two very small [but at the same time, very BIG] favors.

#1.) That you will please keep JP in your thoughts and prayers [because I'm sure if you are reading this blog you at least know him...and probably love and miss him as much as I do]. As well as, please keep all of our troops that are still serving on foreign soil in your thoughts and prayers. We owe them more than we will ever know.

#2.)KEEP A LIGHT HEART. All of you who know JP or me enough, already know this story. And those of you who don't [I'll tell you someday...just ask]...all you need to know is this,

A LIGHT HEART WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH ALL HARD TIMES

Never have I ever heard more true a statement. And never have I strayed from it since I permanently etched it unto my body. So no matter what hard time you may be going through... finals week, home sickness, divorce, death, leaving Europe, missing your best friend beyond reason, or fighting a war...KEEP A LIGHT HEART. At least the lightest heart you can manage. I know this is true. JP knows this is true. And now you know.

So please do these two small favors for me. Thank you.

JP I love you brother. Stay safe.

Here's my light heart right here

Beer Fest! [ MUNICH ]

As an American, I pride myself on many things...McDonald's, Bruce Springsteen, the missionary position [you're welcome], but most of all, my ability to drink vast amounts of cold beer. But I, as well as my fellow American counterparts, were put to shame by the Germans as far as beer drinking goes at Beer Fest in Munich, Germany the other weekend [Sorry America].

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Holy shit! Already?! Just wait...
Hofbrau Dark [or Dunkle] is a Bavarian original and its probably one of the darkest beers I've ever drunken. It is so think tasting, almost to the point where you could consider it a meal in itself. Very delicious though!

We took an overnight train from Florence and arrived in Munich very early in the morning with very little sleep. So we took a quick nap at the hostel and recharged for what would be a long and adventurous weekend. The first thing we did, upon our awakening in the beautiful city of Munich, was rent bikes and ride all around the city. Munich is set up perfectly for bike riding. Wide sidewalks, very little elevations, lanes especially for just bikes, and so many sites to see [that a bike is almost a necessity if you want to catch them all]. I love bike riding and I miss my bike back home very much, so this was one of the greatest feelings in the world at the time.









After a full day of bike riding and site seeing, it was time for some beer! We decided to go to one of the most famous German Breweries and beer garden, The Hofbräuhaus. We started out with the Hofbrau Dunkle [mentioned above] and some fine German cuisine.

+Wienersnitzle is gross looking, but ok tasting...just ok.

+German beer is only fully enjoyed with a gigantic pretzle accompaning it.

+Beer is served in these gigantic, heavey beer mugs known as a Stein and hold the equvalent of about three American beer cans...not to mention the alcohol content is alot higher.

So after the heavey dark beer and alot of food we moved on to some lighter beer.

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Yea, just get used to it. The next beer on the list is the Hofbrau Original. Although this beer is lighter than the Dunkle, it still is heavier than most beers I am used to drinking in Italy or back home in the States. The Original has a very crisp, refreshing taste that reminds me summer time. Definitely give this one a try if you have the chance.

So needless to say, six steins of beer deep each and we were on our asses. I'm not gonna lie...I don't remember getting back to the hostel that night [nor taking the picture below].













Saturday started with a headache [no shit], but was quickly replaced with fun and excitement as we visited Munich's soccer stadium and the Olympic Park.








After that, we visited the best museum I have ever been too in my entire life [no, I am not over exsagerating...and yes I have been to the Rock and Roll Museum]. The BMW Velt and Museum are not just amazing in their architectural design, but they contain some of the coolest motorized vehicles ever! The museum is a MUST MUST MUST do if you ever make it as far as Munich, Germany!

We decided to top off the day with...

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Wham! You gotta love those mid-sentence ones!
We started our evening with a Munchner Weisse. I thoroughly enjoyed the taste and even smell of this beer so I inquired about it. The recipe consists of a balance of the banana, clove spice and lemon [among other things]. It is very fresh tasting and extremely drinkable.

After thoroughly enjoying a few more Munchner Weisse's, we made out way to a night club called Naucght Gallerie. This place was gigantic! There were different rooms with different types of DJs in each! Drinks were cheap and the girls were cute, so we danced and partied there till they turned the lights on on us and, to us, it felt like a great two hours and we should move on to the next club, thinking it was probably around two in the morning. We walk out of the doors of the club to the sun rising. It is seven AM! We had been having ourselves a blast for over 5 and a half hours without even realizing it!

Sunday, which was also Easter, we spent the last part of our stay in Munich at the concentration camp, Dachau. I have visited the Holocaust Museum in D.C. and have been very moved by it, but nothing could have prepared me for the flood of emotion that engulfed everyone visiting this place. Dachau was one of the first concentration camps, or what the Nazi's called "re-education camps". They believe over 35,000 souls lost their lives in Dachau, not to mention the starvation, over-working, torture, and general crimes against humanity that occurred there over the entire length of World War II in Europe. The most moving part of my visit was the first hand accounts that I was able to listen to through a rented audio set, from actual survivors and liberators of Dachau. I will, with out a doubt in my mind, remember this visit for the rest of my life.

On a lighter note [didn't mean to depress you, but atleast you know that I did stuff other than drink beer while in Germany], Munich is a beautiful city full of...

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Ok, this is getting kind of rediculous! But it's Beer Fest!...last one...I promise. = )
Probably the most unusual type of beer I had while in Munich was the Radler. It is actually a cobinaion of beer and lemonade soda [kinda like a Seven-Up or a Sprite]. It has a citrus-y taste and is a little sour for my liking, but I thought it was interesting enough for the blog. Try it just to say that you did.

No, but for real, Munich really is a beautiful city full of great architecture, a very fun and interesting culture, a rich past and a blooming future, too many things to do in just one small weekend, and...of course...its full of BEER!

It's true, I did get my American, beer-drinking ass kicked by the Germans...but ask me if I had a good time in the process...I dare ya!